Can arch supporting flip flops replace foot orthotics?

Foot orthotics are generally widely used to treat a variety of biomechanical problems of the foot and leg. These foot orthotics are inserts that are worn in the shoe to try and adjust alignment of the feet in a way that they help problems in the feet and leg. These problems range from, for example, plantar fasciitis in the heel to shin splints that can occur in the legs of athletes. All the research evidence shows that the clinical results with foot orthoses usually are good and most people that have foot orthotics are happy with them. However, foot inserts can only ever do any good if you in fact use them. You do need to have correct shoes to use them in and wear them for long enough for the problem they were required for to get better.

One of the issues with foot orthotics is that you need to use them in shoes. This can be a problem if you do not like using footwear or reside in a warm environment where the using of shoes is difficult. In these climates people like wearing jandals (called ‘thongs’ in Australia) which you can not really use with a foot supports. There are numerous options that you can get. Among those is to reduce the time that you are not using the foot orthotics, so that you wear shoes with the inserts for long enough and don't wear the flip flops too much so that the painful condition does not occur. Another choice is by using things like the arch support sandals or jandals like the Archie Thongs from Australia. These have some arch support constructed into them and may typically be used as opposed to foot orthoses. Footwear much like the Archies will normally not be as effective as an adequately made foot orthotic, but they would be more than adequate to supplement them and use when the proper footwear can't or will not be worn.